The Hobby Farm Hay Wagon Reborn

As you may remember last year, or was it the year before, I used a mobile hay feeding system instead of just the stationary one used prior too that and again used so far this year. Up Every Morning At 6 (Really?) On a Hobby Farm Too? Followed up with a report on the results of using it. http://hobbyfarmlife.com/update-how-has-the-hay-wagon-worked-out/ It had some drawbacks but some benefits as well. The long and short of it is I am using it again. Not the same one since it was pretty well broken up by the end of the season so I have thrown another one together.

Several motivating factors have come into play in this decision.

#3 We just lost a yearling from scours! A condition that can be caused from unclean conditions. A condition called dysentery in humans and as in humans it can be very devastating even if caught early and fatal if not treated in time. Why a different name I am not sure but I am sure it has something to do with it being more politically correct us the higher species to have a different name for it when it applied to us. My Dad however id refer to it as the Uncle John Scours. Where or who the uncle john came into it I have no idea. Of course Dad was not often concerned with politically correctness. Maybe that is where I got it from?

He wasn’t in the same lot with the other cows but the his lot is slightly down hill from that area and bacteria from run off may have been a factor. I just don’t know.

#2 Probably the most influencing reason is that we have one cow that is less than nice to the two others. Very dominating. Especially to the youngest and smallest of the three. Quite often I have found her just lying down in the hay area effectively keeping the other two from feeding. The youngest especially won’t even attempt to get in there and feed when this one is present even though there is room far all three to feed at the same time. I noticed a couple of days back that her, the younger one, ribs are beginning to show so she is not getting enough to eat. And hopefully she is carrying a calf. I can’t have her malnourished. Yes I could separate her but we have tried that before and even though she is treated less than well she doesn’t do well when separated from the rest of our small herd.

#1 Now here was the real clincher! Pauline said she wanted it done so that Bella, that is her name, has a second option of feeding when the (bit___) whoops I didn’t say that did I, decides to be aggravating. Well more so than normal.

Now I may not be bright but some things are just plain obvious. Do it now! lol

This one is a lot less complicated than the previous one but there is also only a couple of months of winter left before the grass starts growing again. But hopefully enough time to get Bella back in good condition before her calf is born which should be late March to early April. Also hopefully spreading of some organic matter and grass seed to areas where we have recently cleared trees. Yes we are getting some of that done this winter as well.

2 2x4s on the bottom help hold the stock panels in place while to two higher up serve as rails to discourage the cows from trying to get in it.

We had a 10′ x 7′ flat bed trailer not being used for anything in particular so this is what we modified for it. Two 48″ x 16′ stock panels arched over the top, held in place by 1×4 strips to hold it in place front and back. A couple of 10′ 2x4s on the bottom to insure they stay down and two more the full length to keep them from getting up in, and hopefully cut down on the waste and some old plastic I had left from covering the hay before we had the room to keep it inside and now the rain and snow doesn’t get on it.

Why don’t I just put it on the ground like most of the other people do? For me there is just to much waste. Not only is a lot of it left uneaten but it also kills the grass where it is at cutting down the amount of grass for next season. Something we are already short on. Also the trailer is mobile so I can move it as I see fit to stop any build up of dropped hay. That to will stop the germination of existing and new growth in the spring. The plastic over the top keeps it dry and again cuts down on the waste. Last but not least, we have to buy our hay. We don’t have the grass to cut our own so this cuts down on overall cost. I’m frugal, or cheap, your choice and not the least apologetic about it.

Check it out.

You know what? Pauline is right, IT IS UGLY

Pauline’s first comment when she saw it was, That’s Ugly,. She is right but for one day’s work and fifty dollars expense and only about two months of winter left I think it will work.

But the cows don’t seem to mind

So now we have it Equal opportunity feeding on the hobby farm.

You think it will help? Send me your thoughts on the matter. I am tough I can take it.

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About The Author

Pauline and I was born 47 & 48 respectively so we have seen quite a bit of life. And it has been pretty good too. We have both worked in a variety of occupations. From owning our own businesses to working on the production floor of a factory. That being our most recent employment. Me I started as agricultural labor then military and after that several years cutting meat. I still enjoy processing my own. Pauline? She started in secretarial. Real Estate Later on in FL.. An agent then Office Manager then she and I worked as a team for several years before we moved up here,
Our early lives were quite different as well. She was born and raised just 30 mile south of NY City while I was raised on The Treasure Coast. ( I didn't find any that you could spend.) Our lives came together in the early 90s and is still going on. That is a good thing right?
We bought this house and 8.77 acres in 2004 and are still working at making it all we want it to be. The really good part of that is that we still are not sure exactly what we want it to be so change is an ever constant part of our life. This helps to keep us young and active although it can be challenging at times. The young part may be up for interpretation from some vantage points.
The land is still rough for the most part but I don't have to worry about running out of something to do. I think our real goal is to get to the point that if need dictated we could be self sufficient.
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